Cranberry Cocktail Meatballs
These Cranberry Cocktail Meatballs make the perfect holiday appetizer that are easy to throw together with the perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors!
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time25 minutes mins
Total Time35 minutes mins
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Cranberry Cocktail Meatballs
Servings: 6
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 onion finely chopped
- 1/4 cup whole wheat panko breadcrumbs
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese finely grated
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 Tbsp fresh parsley minced
For the cranberry sauce:
- 1 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
- 1/3 cup honey
- 12 oz. fresh cranberries or you can use cranberry sauce
- 1/2 cup chili sauce
- 1 tsp. orange zest
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
In a large bowl, mix together ground beef, onion, breadcrumbs, garlic, egg, parmesan cheese, tomato paste, salt, pepper and parsley until well combined. Shape mixture into 1-inch balls (you'll make roughly 30 balls) and place spaced apart on prepared baking sheets lightly sprayed with cooking spray.
Bake meatballs for 20 to 25 minutes, or until browned and cooked through.
While the meatballs are baking, whisk together orange juice and honey in a small saucepan over medium heat until the honey dissolves. Add cranberries and cook for about 10 minutes, until the berries start to pop, then reduce heat and add chili sauce, orange zest and cayenne pepper, cooking an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Feel free to mash the cranberries with the back of a wooden spoon to achieve a jam-like consistency and add 1/4 cup of water if you like a thinner sauce.
Remove cranberry sauce from heat and season with salt and pepper as needed. Toss sauce with baked meatballs, garnish with fresh parsley and enjoy!
Serving: 5meatballs | Calories: 282kcal | Carbohydrates: 27.5g | Protein: 20.1g | Fat: 8.7g | Saturated Fat: 3.6g | Sodium: 722.8mg | Fiber: 1.9g | Sugar: 19.2g